Agitator



Patepted June 4, 1929. l

UNITI-:n s'rr JOSEPH E. BOND, 0F APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

entraron.

Application tiled March 5,.

sity possible, it is now common to deal with l 6% solutions` with correspondingly increased production capacity.

However, many dificult problems are encountered in handling pulp of this density due to its lack of fluidity and its tendency to mass or cake in the storage `or treatment tanks and containers. This tendency is inherent in the nature of the material under treatment due to its fibrous character and to the physical law of attraction of solids. 'Ihe liquid within which the solids are carried serves merely as a supporting medium therefor and facilitates rather than hinders the massing and intertwining of the fibers.

rIo avoid messing and stratifying of the pulp in the liquid and to maintain a uniform density throughout the entire body of material it must be kept in motion and the motion producin means should have a tendency to brea up and tear apart any large or small masses of pulp. In the old practice the mixture was kept in motion by means of paddles or impellers in the tank, but this apparatus had very little tendency to break up masses of pulp, and was wholly ineffective with stock of increased density. Furthermore, such apparatus required an outlay of power not commensurate with the results secured.

The tanks, chests-or containers which are in place 'and must be utilized for the new plan of operation are of many and varied forms. all of great size, some narrow and of great length, some deep and some round. vThe problem has been, therefore, to provide means applicable to these various forms of tanks that would insure effective circulation, the breaking up of pulp masses and the maintenance at all times of a pro er consistency throughout the Whole vo ume of material, with a minimum of power ex- Pennine..

1928. Serial No. 259,081.

The invention will loe-more readily understood. by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an agitator layout constructed in accordance with my invention; i

2 is an end elevation thereof, and

F 1g. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a rectangular tank having side walls 10, 11 `and end walls 12, 13. The tank is divided intol vcompartments by three longitudinally extending v.walls 14, 15, 16 which extend from end to end .of the tank thereby forming compartments A, B, C, D. Compartments A and B are in communication through the conduit or passageway 17, while compartments C and D are in communication through the passageway 18. Compartments B and C may likewise be placed in communication by means of passages 19 if so desired.

'Iwo pumps 20, 21 are located outside `of the end wall 13, the pumps being of the propeller type operated by suitable motors. An inlet pipe 22 from the pump 20 enters compartment B near the floor thereof, and a pipe 23 enters compartment C in a similar manner. A discharge pipe 24 from the pump 2O connects with tank D at a level above that of the inlet, whilethe pipe 25 connects the motor 2l to the tank A.

With the motors in operation and the tanks containing a quantity of stock, material is drawn into the pumps from the tanks B, C and is discharged into the tanks A, D. However, the material discharged into tank D passes through the conduit 18 into tank C rom which it is withdrawn into the pump other than that. which discharged it and is thereafter delivered into tank A. Thus the entire body of material within the four compartments is circulated -throughout the entire area of the tank. Ihe agitation by the pump and the constant circulation of the material insures proper consistency at all times.

I claim: y

1. In combination a tank, walls dividing said tank into a plurality of side by side compartments, two pumps each having an inlet from separate compartments and an outlet into other separatecompartments, and

means connecting the compartment that receives the material discharged from one pump with the compartment that delivers material to the other pump.

2. An agitator comprising in combination a tank having a plurality of Walls dividing the tank into adjacent compartments, a plurality of pumps each having an inlet and discharge connection to separate compartments, the discharge from one pump being into av compartment that is in communicavtion with a compartment that delivers material to another pump.

3. In combination, a plurality of adjacent tanks laterally adjacent tanks being in communication with each other, a pump having an inlet from one compartment and an outlet into another com artment, another pump having an inlet an other compartments, the discharge from one pump being into a tank that delivers material to the other pump.

4. In combination, a tank, walls dividing said tank into four compartments, a pump having' an inlet connected to one compartoutlet connecting with` ment and a discharge connection into another compartment, a second pump having inlet anddischarge connections with other compartments and means connecting said compartments whereby the material discharged from one pump is caused to return to another pump.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a substantially square liquid tank, said tank being longitudinally divided into four independent tanks, the two end tanks each having a communicating opening near the bottom thereof to an adjacent middle tank, and two pumps, said pumps each having an inlet connection with the bottom of each of said middle tanks, and each pump having a discharge connection near the top of said end tanks, the respective inlet and outlet connections being located in alternate tanks.

vIn testimony whereof I have aixed my signature.

JOSEPH E. BOND. 

